Plumb and level.



P'ATENTED'AUG. 13, 1907. I

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s. 0. MATTHEWS.

PLUMB AND LEVEL.-

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 10, 1906.

SANFORD O. MATTHEWS, OF WEST ELIZABETH, PENNSYLVANIA.

PLUMB AND LEVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed August 10,1906. Serial No. 330,085.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SANFORD O. MATTHEWS, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at West Elizabeth, in the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Plumbs and Levels, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in levels,and the invention has for its primary object to provide a folding level,which can be conveniently carried in a carpenters kit or box.

Another object of this invention is to provide a folding level havingshielded or protected level glasses.

A furtherobject of this invention is to provide certain attachments fora level which will permit of the level being used after its edges havebeen injured or disfigured.

A still further object of this invention is to provide novel means inconnection with a level whereby the same can be used upon an inclinedplane for determining a level plane with relation to the inclined plane.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive level, which will be accurate and precise, and free from alldanger of injury from ordinary use.

With the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appearas the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinaftermore fully described.

Referring to the drawing, like numerals of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, in which: I

Figure 1 is an edge view of my improved level, Fig. 2 is a plan of thesame, Fig. 3 is an edge view of the level in a folded position, Fig. 4is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the level, illustratingone of the hinges thereof, and means for locking said hinge in a fixedposition, Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View of the level taken on theline :E-:t of Fig. 2, Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on the line y y ofFig. 1, Fig. '7 is a plan of a detachable level glass housing asdetached from the level, and Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe same, as positioned within a level.

To put my invention into practice, 1 construct my improved level ofthree sections or parts, 1, 2 and 3. These parts being connectedtogether in alinement with one another constitute a level of an ordinarysize, such as are commonly used by carpenters, masons, and similarartisans.

The sections 1 and 3 which form the ends of the level are hinged to thecentral section 2, as at 4, the section 3 being hinged to the oppositeedge of the sectionZ from that of the section 1, whereby the sections 1and 3 can be folded upon each side of the central section 2, as

illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. To maintain the sections inlongitudinal alinement with one another, I provide the confronting edgesof the sections with transverse plates 5 forming teeth 6, which areengaged by resilient hook-shaped latches 7 secured to the sections 1 and3. The sections of the level when moved into alinement with one another,are automatically locked together, and at any time it is .desired toclose or fold the level, it is only necessary to press the resilientlatches 7 to release the hinged sections of said level.

The central section 2 of the level is provided with an oblong opening 8in which is mounted a level glass housing 9. The housing 9 is preferablyconstructed of a material similar to the level, and is provided with twotransverse openings 10 in which are mounted level glasses 11 and 12,said glasses having their ends embedded in plaster of paris or a similarmaterial 14. The housing 9 is firmly secured within the cavity 8 in anysuitable manner. The glasses are arranged at right a11- gles to oneanother whereby the housing member 9 is of less thickness than the body2, whereby recesses are left in the opposite faces of the body, andcommunicating with the ends of the cavity for the housing are recesses20, the recesses being disposed in the opposite faces of the body andextending longitudinally thereof.

Formed in the opposite faces of the body opposite the other cavity 10are similar recesses 20. Bearing upon the opposite faces of the housing9 and in alinement with the sides of the cavities 20 are guide members16 having dovetail inner edges, and adapted to receive slides 15, theslides adapted to bear over the opposite ends of the cavity 10 when inone position and with their outer ends projecting in the cavities 20when in open position, thus forming shields or guards for thelongitudinal level-glass.

Attached to the opposite faces of the body 9 and spaced apart atopposite sides of the cavity 10 for the transverse level-glass arespaced guides 16 having dovetail inner edges, and slidable between theseguides are guide plates 15 adapted when in closed position to cover thetransverse level-glass, and to extend into the cavities 20 when in openposition, whereby shields are provided for the transverse level-glasswhen required. At one side of the body 9 one of the guide members isenlarged laterally as shown in Fig. 2 to extend over the plaster ofparis binding material by which the level-glass 11 is held in place. Bythis arrangement it will be noted that no portion of the housing 9 orits attachments project beyond the general surface of the body 2,consequently there is no danger or damage to these parts by coming incontact with the surrounding objects. The plates 15 and 15 are providedwith thumb recesses 17 to assist in moving them.

An attachment for my improved level consists of two blocks 18 detachablyconnected to the level near the ends thereof by threaded studs, asillustrated in Fig. 5, these blocks being used when the edge of thelevel has been injured to such an extent as to interfere with theaccuracy of the level.

In order that the level may be used to determine a horizontal plane withrelation to an inclined plane, I provide the section 3 of the level withtwo plates 19 supported in dovetail grooves upon opposite sides of oneof the sections of the body, as for instance the section 3, the platesbeing thus in position to be protruded longitudinally from either sideof the body. By this means the plates 19 may be adjusted with their endsprojecting from the body of the implement to any required extent tosupport the body at an incline, and thus provide a simple means wherebythe implement may be employed in determining a horizontal plane relativeto an inclined plane. The slides 19 will fit their sockets withsufficient firmness to be held by friction only.

The housing member 9 with its attachments is held by friction only, andmay be readily removed for attachment in another body in event ofinjury, or the wearing of the body to which it is attached. The housingmay thus be employed in connection with any form of straight edge orsimilar implement.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have devised anovel-lfolding level which can be easily and quickly manipulated todetermine the angularity of any plane.

Such changes in the details of construction as are permissible by theappended claims, may be resorted to Without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

An implement of the class described comprising a body having atransverse opening and having recesses in the opposite faces of the bodycommunicating with said opening', a housing engaging said opening andprovided with spaced transverse apertures, level-glasses securedrespectively in said apertures at right angles to each other, guidesattached to said housing at opposite sides of the level-glass aperturesand in alinement with the side edges of said recesses, slides movablebetween said guides and adapted to cover said level-glass apertures whenin one position and to enter said body recesses when in the otherposition.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

SANFORD C. MATTHEWS.

Witnesses MAX H. SROLOVITZ, K. H. BUTLER.

